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Claudio Reyna retiring

FIRST ON SBI

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                                                    Photo by ISIphotos.com

Ultimately, the injuries were just too much to overcome.

After a 14-year professional career that saw him play in Germany, England and Scotland before returning to the United States, Claudio Reyna has decided it is time to stop playing. The former U.S. national team captain and New York Red Bulls midfielder is retiring immediately, sources within MLS told SBI on Tuesday.

The Red Bulls have scheduled a press conference for Wednesday at 2pm at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, the school where Reyna’s decorated career began two decades ago.

Leg and back injuries limited Reyna, who turns 35 later this month, to just six games this season, and 27 games total during his two seasons with the Red Bulls after joining the club on a free transfer from Manchester City.

Reyna’s retirement is expected to free up a designated player slot the team is very likely to use to sign a forward to replace departed U.S. national team forward Jozy Altidore, who was sold to Villarreal last month. (Update- according to a source, the Red Bulls will not be using the DP slot this year.)

According to sources, Reyna will still be paid the remainder of his $1.25 million contract, but the Red Bulls will pay the remaining portion of the salary that MLS was due to pay. This would allow the club to fill his salary slot and designated player slot (I’m seeking confirmation on this from the league, with a source just telling me they don’t believe this to be the case).

Reyna joined the Red Bulls prior to the 2007 season as its first designated player. He played 27 matches over the course of two seasons, including six matches this year, but nagging leg injuries prevented him from ever having the impact expected of him when he was signed for a two-year, $2.5 million contract by then Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena.

Reyna showed flashes of the composure and skill with the Red Bulls that made him so successful in Europe, but ultimately his body could not handle the rigors of playing on artificial turf and in the physical MLS at the age of 34. He was repeatedly forced to miss matches with a variety of injuries, and after considerable deliberation, Reyna made the final decision to stop playing.

Reyna’s last public appearance came two weeks ago in a charity game with Steve Nash and Thierry Henry in Manhattan. At that match, Reyna stated his desire to come back, but at that point discussions were already underway with the Red Bulls about the possibility of him retiring.

Reyna spent a dozen seasons in Europe, playing for Wolfsburg in Germany, Sunderland and Manchester City in England, and Glasgow Rangers in Scotland. He was regarded as one of the best players ever produced by the United States for his composure and skill in central midfield.

His career reached its peak at the 2002 World Cup, where he helped lead the United States to the World Cup quarterfinals. His inspired performance in that tournament earned him All-Tournament honors, making him the first American to ever receive such a distinction.

It remains to be seen just how the Red Bulls will be allowed to use the vacated designated player slot and salary cap space left open by Reyna’s retirement. With the designated player mechanism only in its second year of existence, MLS is in uncharted territories when it comes to handling a situation like this. According to sources, the Red Bulls were expected to pay Reyna’s entire remaining salary, believed to be slightly more than $600,000, a figure that includes the $200,000 pro-rated amount due Reyna from the league (MLS pays up to $400,000 of a designate player’s salary, less for a team’s second designated player, with the team paying the rest.)

I’ll share my thoughts on Reyna’s retirement later. For now, share your own thoughts on Reyna’s retirement below.

Comments

  1. Reyna The best US field player since the early 90’s. He probably would have played in the 94 WC if not for an injury and so that puts him on the National team for over 10 years as one of the best players. I think this deserves the praise and thank yous.

    I agree that the Red Bulls screwed up but come on give the guy the thanks that he deserves after a career of being one of the Greats of US soccer History.

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  2. First, congrats to Claudio on a superb career. He was blamed (both fairly and unfairly) for a lot of things wrong with RBNY, and all was not his fault. Yes, he was injury prone, but those facts were well known when he came over here. It was probably too much to expect him to remain healthy on the pitiful surface that RBNY plays. Unfortunately, he did not make every effort to bond with fans – I think that was his ultimate downfall here.

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  3. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO i am very happy!!!!

    rememner that kid from venazuela that we couldnt get Vargas who scored two goals vs brazil…. i would use the spot on him he is amazing to watch…. other then that requelme would be nice or Henry????…. Osorio has the connections and redbull has the money now lets make this HAPPEN!!!!! TRANSFER WINDOW HERE WE COME!!!!

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  4. “I had tears streaming down my face as I watched you after the USA-Germany game, wrapped in the flag and saying thanks to your fans.” – Mike

    PANSY MAN!!

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  5. It is time for him to pass on through those shiny gates, and rejoin Tab Ramos, Hugo Perez, and John O’Brien.

    It never feels like hero’s go out the way they should.

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  6. While I sometimes feel bad for the Claudio for the abuse he took from Red Bull fans, I also can not think of too many of them who were happy that Red Bull used their DP on Claudio.

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  7. @Steve T. – lol about bud = crap. My hope is that inBev goes to Budweiser and says, “Ok, now to make BEEEEEEER you just need to stop adding so much WAAAAATER.”

    I could care less, as I pinkishly and eurosnobbishly drink Belgian beer anyway (more to do with my wife having lived there for a year AND a small local beer store run by some Australian guy who keeps lots of Belgian brews in stock). 😉

    Of course the fact that the Middle East and China own most of our governments debt should probably be of more concern than whether a crappy domestic brew is owned by a Belgian company.

    Oh yes, I should probably says something about Reyna….um….Thanks for making my 2002 World Cup. Thanks for ruining my 2006 World Cup.

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  8. Can’t believe the abuse you’re all giving him. Certainly this wasn’t the way he wanted the last 2 years to go.

    Reyna deserves better from US soccer fans.

    I’m gonna toast him at the bar tonight – as one of the brightest lights of US Soccer.

    Too many people just assume that his lack of flashiness on the pitch was the same as a lack of on the pitch class.

    Those that think that way – are sadly mistaken. The US Nats still haven’t found someone who could stabilize them in the midfield the way he did FOR YEARS – and through injuries!

    For US Soccer – the only field player to match the class of Friedel and Keller at the time.

    What was always amazing to me was how much the Man City and Sunderland fans loved him and the chants of Captain America that went with it.

    Unfortunately, all the critics, and naysayers never give enough credit for what our Reyna led team did in Korea.

    I’m toasting Captain America tonight. I hope some of you do as well.

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  9. I agree with Brant in that we all should remember Claudio for all he has done for the US National team from the early 90’s and through the heights of 2002 and everything he’s done for US Soccer. I know Rangers fans will hold him in high regard and rightly so. He was NOT be blame for the first round exit at 2006. Its just a shame that the Red Bulls never saw the best of him and that horrible turf didn’t help an already injury prone player. We all should be grateful to him because he is truly one of the top 5 players to ever come out of America. Bob Bradley is still trying to replace him in central midfield to this day. John O’Brien was the only player who was just as good as him in that position. Thanks Claudio for all you’ve done and the REAL fans remember all the great things you have done for US Soccer here and overseas.

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  10. I’m happy for Red Bulls fans who feel he didn’t much of anything in his time here, it frees up that DP spot now. But thank you Claudio for your years of service in Red, White and Blue! Lots of great memories!

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  11. Claudio,

    Thanks for the wonderful memories you gave us as Captain America. Your time with the MNT will forever be appreciated. You paved the way for others to follow your steps to Europe. We’ll never forget 2002. I had tears streaming down my face as I watched you after the USA-Germany game, wrapped in the flag and saying thanks to your fans. Good luck and best wishes.

    Mike

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  12. I would like to congratulate him on a great career and all he did for the USNT. For my money, he had the best career any American field player has ever had in Europe. Unfortunaltely, he came to MLS when he was past his prime and couldnt stay healthy. Red Bull should learn a lesson and not sign another 33 plus former Euro player to play on the turf again.

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  13. It was a joke kingsnake. It is a commentary on the xenophobia in this country. Who cares if inBev owns Bud, its still crap. So lighten up my friend.

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  14. A few more injuries, a lacklustre stint in England, and in about five years Beasley will be the top signing of new general manager Tony Meola …

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  15. All those celebrating…can’t you even take one moment and have some respect for one of the greatest American players ever to live? Jeez…just one moment. Godspeed Claudio, you and Tab are probably going to be the definition of the American player to me forever.

    Now that that’s over with: DP SLOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  16. I must say I loved the guy and what he did for the sport in the United States, the national team, and American soccer player’s reputation in Europe. I may even say he facilitated the move of McBride, Bradley, Altidore and Co. NYRB needs to think hard about this one now. Henry is a likely choice but so would Ronaldo. No need to be hasty at this point and they may want to wait until next season to make a run for MLS Cup and a place in international tournaments.

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  17. All those celebrating…can’t you even take one moment and have some respect for one of the greatest American players ever to live? Jeez…just one moment. Godspeed Claudio, you and Tab are probably going to be the definition of the American player to me forever.

    Now that that’s over with: DP SLOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  18. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall at the RB offices. My suspicion is that JCO gave Reyna some strong hints that now would be a good time to call it a career.

    What else to say? He’s not the first player to have had his talent undermined by a too-brittle body, and RBNY shoulda known better before bringing an injury-prone, good-but-not-great player home to play on artificial turf. I’m sure Reyna wanted to contribute more than he did, and at the end of the day I blame nobody but our idiotic front office for an ill-advised signing.

    Otherwise, good career, and he was great in ’02. The retirement decision comes half a season too late, but it’s the right move, and I wish him a happy retirement.

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  19. About time. Thank heavens a professional athlete actually did the HONORABLE thing and retired. Sure he keeps the money, but at least he frees up that DP slot.

    @Kingsnake – LOL! I’m not sure BELGIUM counts as “pinko commie Europeans”. Regarding the Tour de France, I think people just don’t want to hear more about every single cyclist doping. Lets imagine if baseball treated doping the same way cycling is right now?!? It would be insane.

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  20. Thank you Claudio! Thank you! We enjoyed having you as a member of the team but you occupy too much salary cap space not to play.

    Thierry Henri!!! Thierry Henri!!! Thierry Henri!!!

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  21. Wow. I figured there would be some negative comments toward Reyna, but I’m shocked its been this overwhelming. Not that its not mostly deserved, but still.

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  22. Goodbye and Best wishes. Sorry it didn’t work out.

    Moving on, I vote for Brazilian striker Washington (currently of Fluminense, formerly of Fenerbache and Atletico Paranaense, and all-time single season goal scorer in the Brazilian league), who is probably the best striker in the world who won’t play in Europe again, could probably be wrested away from Flu, and most certainly would be worth it.

    The “big” option is to tie up Ronaldo, who is recovering from his knee injury and out-of-contract, but might be available in the fall. Henry is going to star at Barca this year, so he’s out for now. Crespo is an interesting idea. Adriano is unrealistic, as he is still young and wants to prove himself to Dunga for 2010. Interestingly, Riquelme is rumored to be on his way out of Boca, but I doubt he’d come here. If Lampard signs with Inter, who just signed Mancini, maybe that makes Figo available, though he just re-upped with Inter himself.

    In any case, if NY wants to be taken seriously, they need to do something important with this opportunity.

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  23. About time. He should have retired 5 years ago. He’s in my estimation the most overrated US player to date, especially considering a guy named Brian McBride is a much better player.

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  24. This a good news for RBNY. Go get a “real” DP with that money and raise the bar for the league for goodness sake.

    Te loyal soccer fans of NJ, NY and Conn. who’ve supported that crap organization for well over a decade deserve it and if the club wants to really expand its soccer knowledgeable base, this is the way to do it.

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  25. Reyna was a good player with a good career for a US player. He succeeded in Europe when hardly any other Americans were plying their trade overseas. However, his stay at Giants Stadium has been abysmal and I’m glad to see him go, not a moment too soon. Now let’s go out and get Juan Pablo Sorin! He’s available for a good end-of-season run and would add a level of heart and workrate to RB that we haven’t seen this season.

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  26. Reyna’s retirement is a sad ending to a great career. While he was a miscast and fragile shell of his former self with RBNY, I will prefer to remember Reyna as a classy and skilled representative of U.S. soccer to the rest of the world. He was certainly one of the best American players of his generation, and despite the bitterness and frustration of the past two years, he deserves the appreciation of the U.S. soccer public.

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  27. Ah, but you watch a “pinko commie sport” like soccer? How do you reconcile that in your Sludgeweiser guzzling mind?

    Btw … in case you were unaware: Your Sludgeweiser is now owned by pinko commie Europeans …

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  28. Ah, but you watch a “pinko commie sport” like soccer? How do you reconcile that in your Sludgeweiser guzzling mind?

    Btw … in case you were unaware: Your Sludgeweiser is now owned by pinko commie Europeans …

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  29. Obviously this is good for RBNY and I’m glad to see that Reyna is finally hanging up the cleats. He was a great national team player back in his prime and I definitely won’t be forgetting that. However it’s good to see that he was considerate enough to not hold on to his roster and DP spot through the end of the year – it’s the least he could have done.

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  30. Of course this is how he should be remembered…injured! Too bad he had so many injuries throughout the years, but he was still able to put together a great career. I wish he was able to play more in MLS so that I could’ve watched him more.

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  31. Kingsnake, cause us Bud guzzling americans dont give a turd about the french or there lame bike tour! Thank you Claudio for your contributions. Enjoy the good life with your millions.

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  32. It was about time. Such a storied career, but nothing translated to MLS success. Unfortunately, Claudio must retire before seriously damging his body for a lifetime.

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